Autism Awareness Week: Lee Scott MP calls for ring fenced funding

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Leader of the Opposition David Cameron, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Menzies Campbell have all received copies of the Autism Action DVD.The Autism Awareness Campaign is calling on parliamentarians of all parties to speak up on autism, now a serious education and health issue facing the nation.

Lee Scott MP has been championing the cause of autism in the House of Commons. Earlier this year, he initiated a landmark debate on autism in Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster in London. Scott followed it up with a key question on autism in Prime Minister's Questions.

Scott argues the case for ring fenced funding for autism in the 'Autism Action' film, directed by Ian McLeod. He has pledged to take the important issues connected with autism and Asperger's Syndrome to the Prime Minister.

Ivan Corea of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK said: 'We are calling on the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Children's Secretary Ed Balls to back a national strategy on autism and a 10 year plan of action which includes building autism units in mainstream schools, building state of the art specialist autism schools, looking at the possibility of turning special schools into SEN/Autism Academies, giving further education and higher education opportunities, opening the labour market to people with autism and Asperger's Syndrome who are able to work - by launching an Autism Compact with employers. We also want a debate on autism and the elderly. Who will look after them when they grow old?'he said.

Autism Awareness Week in the United Kingdom runs from 1st October - 7th October 2007. It is an initiative of the Autism Alliance.